small is the new green

Increasing environmental awareness along with economic and demographic trends favor smaller house sizes. Many cities are doing their part by updating zoning codes to allow cottage housing and small secondary houses (ADU's) on residentially zoned lots. Seattle and Portland are two cities which allow detached ADU's up to 800 sq. ft. in size. These small houses provide opportunities for families, while increasing housing stock, density and affordability. Continue reading for more information about small house design and Seattle's backyard cottage ordinance or contact us to find out if your lot is eligible for a backyard cottage.

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Backyard Cottage Map

Our friend and cartographer Paul Greatorex put together this map of the greenlake area showing the lots meeting the minimum requirements for zoning, area, width and lot coverage required to qualify for a backyard cottage. It is interesting to see how many lots meet the basic requirements. Unfortunately, the map is too large to add here with reasonable resolution to see specific lots.
If you would like a jpeg image of this map or to find out if your lot qualifies for a backyard cottage contact us.